GPD G2 eGPU enclosure benchmarks show MCIO port outperforms Thunderbolt 4 v2 by up to 13 percent

The GPD G2 eGPU enclosure benchmarks show that its MCIO port outperforms Thunderbolt 4 v2 by 5% to 6% in average and 1% low frame rates, and by 10% to 13% in 0.2% low frame rates. Tested with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 at 4K resolution with maximum settings, the MCIO connection achieved approximately 12 GB/s of bidirectional synchronous bandwidth over PCIe 4.0 x8. In contrast, Thunderbolt 4 v2 delivered asynchronous speeds of roughly 4 GB/s and 5 GB/s. The G2 enclosure integrates an 800W ATX 3.1 Gold power supply with 92% efficiency, which can deliver up to 100W of power to a host device over Thunderbolt. However, users should limit GPU power draw to 600W to maintain efficiency and power supply longevity. Additional dock features include two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a PCIe 3.0 x2 M.2 2280 slot for external storage, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. While MCIO offers superior raw performance, Thunderbolt 4 v2 provides a more convenient single-cable docking solution with power delivery.

Tech4K StaffVideo report

The GPD G2 eGPU enclosure benchmarks show that its MCIO port outperforms Thunderbolt 4 v2 by 5% to 6% in average and 1% low frame rates, and by 10% to 13% in 0.2% low frame rates. Tested with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 at 4K resolution with maximum settings, the MCIO connection achieved approximately 12 GB/s of bidirectional synchronous bandwidth over PCIe 4.0 x8. In contrast, Thunderbolt 4 v2 delivered asynchronous speeds of roughly 4 GB/s and 5 GB/s. The G2 enclosure integrates an 800W ATX 3.1 Gold power supply with 92% efficiency, which can deliver up to 100W of power to a host device over Thunderbolt. However, users should limit GPU power draw to 600W to maintain efficiency and power supply longevity. Additional dock features include two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a PCIe 3.0 x2 M.2 2280 slot for external storage, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. While MCIO offers superior raw performance, Thunderbolt 4 v2 provides a more convenient single-cable docking solution with power delivery.

The GPD G2 eGPU enclosure features both an MCIO port and a Thunderbolt 4 v2 port for host connectivity. MCIO connection provides approximately 12 GB/s of bidirectional synchronous bandwidth when tested with a PCIe 4.0 graphics card.

Benchmarks across multiple games at 4K show MCIO outperforms Thunderbolt 4 v2 by 5% to 6% in average frame rates. The MCIO interface improves 0.2% low frame rates by 10% to 13% compared to Thunderbolt 4 v2.

The enclosure features an integrated 800W ATX 3.1 Gold power supply that operates at over 92% efficiency. The GPD G2 can deliver up to 100W of power to a connected host device over its Thunderbolt port.

The dock includes expansion options such as a PCIe 3.0 x2 M.2 slot and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

Chapter guide

Introduction to the GPD G2Overview of the GPD G2 eGPU enclosure, its MCIO port, and Thunderbolt 4 v2 support.Bandwidth and Connection TypesComparison of MCIO and Thunderbolt 4 v2 bandwidth capabilities and cable durability.Performance DifferencesAnalysis of the frame rate differences between MCIO and Thunderbolt 4 v2 connections.Detailed SpecificationsBreakdown of the GPD G2's connectivity ports, M.2 slot, and power supply specifications.Gaming BenchmarksSide-by-side performance comparison in Cyberpunk 2077, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Returnal.Conclusion and RecommendationsFinal thoughts on the GPD G2, its docking capabilities, and the future of eGPUs.

Worth noting

  • The presenter tested the GPD G2 using an early unit; the production model is expected to resolve a physical clearance issue with three-slot PCIe brackets.
  • Bandwidth and performance testing was limited to Windows 11, as Linux compatibility was not evaluated.
  • PCIe 5.0 performance could not be directly verified because the testing was conducted with a PCIe 4.0 graphics card (RTX 4090).

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